The "roots of a quadratic" refer to the solutions of a quadratic equation, which is typically in the form of ax² + bx + c = 0. These roots can be found using various methods, including factoring, completing the square, or applying the quadratic formula, which is x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a). The roots represent the x-values where the quadratic function intersects the x-axis. The discriminant, represented as b² - 4ac, plays a crucial role in determining the nature of the roots. If the discriminant is positive, there are two distinct real roots; if it is zero, there is one real root (a repeated root); and if it is negative, the roots are complex or imaginary. Understanding the roots helps in analyzing the behavior of quadratic functions.